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Side by side

Alicante or Palma?

Each place uses its own local data. National rules (economy, geopolitical stability, governance, tax & finance) are the same for both, so they cannot separate them. Neither wins everywhere; the tradeoffs below are what matter.

All about AlicanteAll about PalmaChange a place

Data as of

City · Comunitat Valenciana

Alicante

A sunny port city with a long town beach, mild winters and a big, settled international community.

Quality of life49average
Momentum60above average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Beach cityPort cityMild wintersInternational communityUniversity townWatch your pocketsInternational crowd

121st of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

City · Illes Balears

Palma

Island life in a real city: a Gothic cathedral on the sea, a year-round centre and mountains behind.

Quality of life54average
Momentum53average
Outlook–Spain-wide only
Island capitalPort citySailing and yachtsMild wintersInternational communityGlobal airportInternational crowd

92nd of 153 Spanish cities above 50,000

Why Alicante

  • Stronger on housing (37 vs 24)
  • Commute by public transport: 18% of commuters vs 10% of commuters
  • Nights above 20 °C: 60 a year vs 137 a year
  • Vehicle thefts: 111 per 100k people vs 215 per 100k people
  • Buying price per m²: €2,279 vs €3,814
  • Mild bright winters and an airport close to the city
  • A walkable centre with a beach a few minutes away

Watch out: A seasonal population that swells in summer and at the Hogueras; Crowded beach and nightlife areas in summer.

Why Palma

  • Stronger on prosperity (78 vs 30)
  • Stronger on connectivity (77 vs 55)
  • Stronger on climate (68 vs 53)
  • Airport passengers: 33.8 million a year vs 19.9 million a year
  • Homicides: 0.46 per 100k people vs 1.37 per 100k people
  • Home burglaries: 67 per 100k people vs 185 per 100k people
  • Hospital beds: 6.0 per 1,000 people vs 4.1 per 1,000 people
  • A real city that stays open in winter

Watch out: A housing market shared with visitors and second-home buyers; Quiet winters in the coastal resorts where many places close.

Of 40 figures both publish in the same unit, Alicante is better on 16 and Palma on 11; the rest are close or have no better direction.

Life domains

55 · averageConnectivity77 · strong
53 · averageClimate68 · above average
53 · averageTransport53 · average
48 · averageHealthcare40 · average
37 · below averageDigital35 · below average
37 · below averageHousing24 · weak
36 · below averageJobs42 · average
30 · below averageProsperity78 · strong
16 · weakSafety23 · weak

Side by side, figure by figure

FigureAlicantePalmaDifference
Housing
Rent per m²€7.1 a month2024€9.8 a month2024Alicante 28% lower
Rent for a 70 m² flat€497 a month2024€689 a month2024Alicante 28% lower
Typical rent, existing lease€608 a month2024€800 a month2024Alicante 24% lower
Rents, change in a year5.1%20244.2%2024Alicante 0.9 pts higher
Buying price per m²€2,279Q2 2026€3,814Q2 2026Alicante 40% lower
Price of an 80 m² flat€182,336Q2 2026€305,160Q2 2026Alicante 40% lower
House prices, change in a year12.6%Q2 202614.3%Q2 2026Alicante 1.7 pts lower
Money & work
Household income per person€14,361 a year2024€17,289 a year2024Alicante 17% lower
Net income per household€36,891 a year2024€48,884 a year2024Alicante 25% lower
Unemployment14.8%202511.3%2025Alicante 3.6 pts higher
Safety
Recorded crime67.9 per 1,000 people202480.6 per 1,000 people2024Alicante 16% lower
Sexual offences0.68 per 1,000 people20240.79 per 1,000 people2024Alicante 14% lower
Homicides1.37 per 100k people20250.46 per 100k people2025Alicante 3.0×
Robberies with violence244 per 100k people2025229 per 100k people2025Alicante 6% higher
Home burglaries185 per 100k people202567 per 100k people2025Alicante 2.8×
Thefts without violence2,206 per 100k people20253,660 per 100k people2025Alicante 40% lower
Vehicle thefts111 per 100k people2025215 per 100k people2025Palma 1.9×
Health
Life expectancy83.4 years202383.2 years2023about the same
Hospital beds4.1 per 1,000 people20256.0 per 1,000 people2025Alicante 31% lower
Climate
Days above 35 °C14 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024about the same
Days above 30 °C75 a year2015–202418 a year2015–2024Alicante 4.2×
Nights above 20 °C60 a year2015–2024137 a year2015–2024Palma 2.3×
Pleasant days (18–28 °C, dry)127 a year2015–2024120 a year2015–2024Alicante 6% higher
Rainfall399 mm a year2015–2024542 mm a year2015–2024Alicante 26% lower
Rainy days (≥1 mm)63 a year2015–202488 a year2015–2024Alicante 28% lower
Frost days1 a year2015–20240 a year2015–2024about the same
Getting around
Average commute (one way)42 min202134 min2021Alicante 23% higher
Commute by public transport18% of commuters202110% of commuters2021Alicante 8.1 pts higher
Commute by car57% of commuters202164% of commuters2021Alicante 7.2 pts lower
Distance to the main airport10 km20268 km2026Alicante 23% higher
Airport passengers19.9 million a year202533.8 million a year2025Alicante 41% lower
Internet
Homes that can get gigabit internet98%202598%2025about the same
Homes with fibre to the door98%202598%2025about the same
Education
Adults with a university degree44%202438%2024Alicante 6.0 pts higher
People
Population366,2212025434,7862025Alicante 16% lower
Median age45.8 years202543.0 years2025Alicante 7% higher
Residents aged 65+19.9%202517.2%2025Alicante 2.7 pts higher
Who lives here
Residents born abroad28.9%202530.3%2025Alicante 1.4 pts lower
Residents with a foreign nationality20.7%202420.0%2024Alicante 0.7 pts higher
Foreign residents, change in 5 years6.0 points20243.1 points2024Alicante 2.9 pts higher

Who each suits, 0–100

70Culture, food and nightlife69
56Students43
54Founders and self-employed60
52Remote workers52
51Beach, mountains and the outdoors58
48High earners and investors52
47Young professionals53
44Retirees49
38Budget-conscious movers28
34Families with children35

Weather through the year

5°20°35°JFMAMJJASOND
Solid: average daily high · dashed: average nightly low, °C.

Our read of each

Alicante

  • Some English, but learn Spanish early
  • Valencian is co-official here
  • Air-conditioning is not a luxury
  • Keep an eye on your phone
  • Easy to fly home
  • Line up work before you come
  • Ready for remote work

Palma

  • English gets you by day to day
  • Catalan is co-official here
  • Air-conditioning is not a luxury
  • Keep an eye on your phone
  • Easy to fly home
  • Line up work before you come
  • Ready for remote work
  • A younger crowd

Data through Jun 2026 (Alicante) and Jun 2026 (Palma). Figures are compared only when both places publish them in the same unit; a dot marks the better value where better is clear.

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